Tuesday, August 30, 2011

10 Body Parts People Have Tried to Sell on eBay

On-line auction giant eBay has demonstrated that not only can you put a price on anything, you can even put a price on nothing. Body parts (not the car kind) have not proven to be the exception to the “anything goes” rules. To be fair, eBay has rules about body parts sales, restricting them to certain cosmetic and medical standards, but that hasn’t prevented a few anatomical oddities from showing up now-and-again. Presented below are some samples from here, there and beyond.

Human Scalp Hair – There are many eBay auctions for wigs and lockets composed of human hair, and these auctions are sanctioned by the site.

Skulls and Skeletons – Skulls and skeletons are not available as general merchandise on eBay, but medical uses are allowed for, and schools and research labs are able to purchase items via auction.

It Ain’t Chopped Liver – A Florida man put his liver on the auction block, and bids went over $5.7 million before the auction was pulled by eBay, which cited company policies forbidding the marketing of body parts.

Unreal Parts – There are auctions for decorative accessories that include coat-hooks shaped like fingers. No word on which finger was used as a model.

Emerald Beetle Earrings – Not only are these iridescent little green beauties pleasing to the eye, but the nut-like wings have already served as a food source for the Thai artisans who fashion this jewelry-to-drool-for.

Your Ad Here – A man once made $322 on eBay by leasing advertising space on his forehead for thirty days; this stunt has been replicated many times, for prices that have topped $30,000.

Your Ad Not Here – Inspired by those who have made money by leasing advertising space on their foreheads were those who sought to sell similar advertising space utilizing expanses of cleavage; these auctions were pulled from the site.

Entire Collection – A Michigan girl tried to market her two-year-old cousin, saying she was “very lovable but I just outgrew her”. This tongue-in-cheek ad was not well-received by local authorities, who investigated the seller, and a “buyer” who had placed a $1000 dollar bid.

Bodiless Parts – Back in 2003 a man tried to peddle a mysterious looking glass jar by saying that the jar contained a ghost; though bids topped $50,000 there is no word that the sale was ever completed.

Caveat Emptor – “Let the buyer beware”. There have been auctions purporting to sell never-used body parts in that the vendors advertised sales of “virginity”. There are no credible reports of sales having been consummated.

Remember, if you are looking for something, chances are good that someone is selling it, or trying to, on eBay.